About Citizen Yoga Studio

KACEE MUST - FOUNDER/TEACHER

Kacee is the owner and founder of Citizen Yoga. She launched CY Royal Oak in 2013, and opened Citizen Yoga Detroit shortly after in January of 2015. A 2006 graduate of Northwestern University, Kacee’s goal as the company expands is to provide every Citizen with a space they consider to be their third home — after their family home and workplace. She believes that each person who walks into a Citizen Yoga studio should feel a sense of belonging and leave knowing they are better equipped to handle the stresses of life, as inspired by her sister Miya who took her own life in 2007. Having studied Vedanta philosophy for two and a half years at the Vedanta Academy in India, you can count on Kacee to deliver an experience both on and off the mat that leaves you feeling nurtured and empowered.

A former TEDx Talk speaker, graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program, member of Crain’s Detroit 40 Under 40 Class of 2018, lead trainer of the 200 hr CYTT, and accomplished instructor who has lead classes with 100-2,000 people in attendance, Kacee is most passionate about mental health as it relates to yoga philosophy and life. She strives to fulfill the CY mission in any way possible, and is willing to coordinate with you:

Guest teach workshops outside of the Metro Detroit area

Lead off-site private yoga classes for weddings, businesses, etc.

Guest lecture on Vedic Philosophy for Teacher Training programs

Lead large group classes at specialty venues, festivals, or retreat centers

Participate as a guest speaker on podcasts

Lead business seminars

IMPOSSIBLE TO POSSIBLE

REASON FOR BEING

Miya Jo Must, 1979-2007

Citizen Yoga grew out of a need to equip people with necessary and effective coping mechanisms that can be applied in any facet of daily life. Grounded in connection, Citizen Yoga exists simply for every student to feel seen. Our goal is to empower the individual by teaching a safe, alignment-based practice that students of all levels can maintain throughout their lives.

Our values assert each human being is the sole author of their life’s story. This is a theme we emphasize in our teacher training, encourage our apprentices to live, and remind our students of during each class.

To fulfill our mission of empowering all people, we are active participants in the movement toward mental wellness. Our instructors and wellness practitioners partner with outreach programs to enrich the communities where we exist with educated physical and mental health alternatives.

ALIGNMENT

What does alignment mean? It means there is a deeply integrated reason when and why you are doing a pose that generates a great impact on your physical and energetic body. A thoughtful and educated relationship with the body promotes a student to start experiencing the freedom that is felt when applying the optimal amount of boundary and discipline, like a parent to a child.

At the most basic level, a yoga practice is a physical practice. Just like an athlete in the weight room knows to track a safe depth when squatting, you must apply discipline while practicing yoga. We focus on helping students learn principle, rather than just posture. Students find alignment in their bodies so that they can build the foundation of a life-long practice.

The practice of yoga is about aligning not only your physical body in yoga, but aligning action outside of class with a higher ideal. Just like we have to practice yoga to master our physical form, we must also practice the art of focusing the mind and directing action rightly toward greater self-transformation.

Alignment helps strengthen the already existing relationship between our body and the mind as well as keeping us safe within the practice of yoga. When we place our bodies into any pose, even the smallest shift in thought can greatly enhance our physical experience.

An aligned practice provides a self-reflective space where one can see how each pose is similar to an experience or relationship they have off the mat. In practice, we strive to refine our actions and reactions in poses. In life, we use our gained perspective and skill to approach similar experiences and relationships with a deeper level of understanding and intimacy.

YOGA ETIQUETTE

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING...TO DO YOGA:

Please arrive approximately ten minutes prior to the start of class to sign in, get in the yoga room, and settled on your mat. We have mats to rent, towels to buy, and cubbies to store your belongings.

Shoes and phones are not allowed in the yoga room, but your smiles and willingness to learn are more than welcome! When you’re at CY be prepared to get present in your body and with those around you.

Especially as seasons change, please make sure to keep your mat clean, towels washed, and remain mindful of the various smells you may bring into the space — personal body odor, perfumes, colognes, etc.

Be sure to wipe down the area around your mat. It helps ensure that you and all of your yogi friends stay safe and comfortable in class.

Savasana is important. Please stay for this pose; it helps decrease your stress levels from day-to-day and relaxes the body. If you cannot stay for the entirety of class, please let the instructor know beforehand so they can help you leave quietly.

WHY WE LOVE CITIZEN YOGA

Your staff was courteous and welcoming, obviously sensing my lost nature upon arriving. I never felt intimidated or out of place, and struggled through my first time as best I could. Your instructor recognized that I was a beginner, made me feel welcome, and encouraged my attempts. They also took the time to introduce themselves after class. It truly made me feel good about myself upon leaving. — Brad Hutto

Moving to a new place is hard. Everything I own is still back in Los Angeles: my apartment, my car, my things, my coworkers and friends – so I still feel very much like a visitor here. Just before Thanksgiving, I drove out here with my boyfriend and our dog, and have been living in a hotel while we look for places. So it’s definitely been a challenging few weeks not feeling like I have a place to settle in. Happily, I’m moving into a house on Friday and could not be more thrilled to have found a new yoga home as well.

So huge thanks to you. I’ve been working remotely every day from this hotel room with my company back in LA, going a little stir-crazy for sure, and CY is just what I need to get out of my funk and start to see this new place as a home, not just a move. — Mallory McMorrow

I wanted to let you know how very happy I am to have found your wonderful, authentic, yoga studio here in Royal Oak! I began yoga when I lived out in Colorado six years ago and, after moving back, have searched for well-trained yoga teachers and studios. All of the instructors here are “The REAL DEAL” and I am convinced that Citizen Yoga is the best in the area.

While in class today I felt like, “This is home.” Thank you for offering Royal Oak (and now Detroit) an authentic yoga studio. What a treasure to find! — Sheila Moll

I had never practiced yoga before and I was definitely a little nervous to try it out. I came for Slow Burn, and it was absolutely amazing. As an outsider trying this for the first time, I felt so comfortable & welcomed to the studio by everyone. The class was challenging but I also felt safe to go my own speed and work to my own limits. I feel very lucky to have had such a positive experience, and I look forward to coming back again. Thanks for a great experience and for taking my Yoga V-card! —Hayley Freese